FAQs

App

Emoodji is available to download on iOS and Android. We do not currently have plans to build a version for Windows, but would be interested to hear from students how much demand there would be.

Can only students download it?

Emoodji has been built for students and so much of the information and tips within the app are focused on student life, such as exam stress or being away from home for the first time. Therefore, the app will make most sense for students studying full time at a university in the UK.

However, anybody is welcome to use the app and many aspects of Emoodji, such as sharing how you’re feeling with others and noticing what affects your mood, are beneficial for any audience.

Why does the app ask for my phone number?

Emoodji uses your phone number to identify you as a user, allowing you to send Emoodjis to your friends. Your details are stored securely and will not be used by Mind or any other organisation to contact you about anything non-Emoodji related.

Where has the content in the app come from? Are the tips credible?

The tips and information in the app have been adapted from Mind’s mental health information on our website, which is approved by the Information Standard.

But how is it any different to Snapchat?

Emoodji uses many of the features of Snapchat, such as selfies and primarily sending photos direct to friends, rather than the posting them to a public profile. However, Emoodji focuses on emojis and mood, feeding back really useful information to users about how their mood has varied over the past week or month. On top of that, Emoodji is packed with tips and information specifically on coping with different aspects of student life.

“What a rubbish idea! How will that help!?”

Right from the start, students have been closely involved in the development of Emoodji and we do firmly believe that the app can help some people. You can find out more about this in the question below “What’s the theory behind Emoodji?”

However, we also know that with mental health and wellbeing, different things work for different people. Emoodji won’t be the right app for some people, but we hope it can be a tool for lots of students to utilise their support networks, notice their mood and navigate their way through the challenges of university.

How does the app know my mood? “I think it’s got my mood wrong!”

Emoodji tracks your mood based on the emojis you choose when taking an emoji. This can be subjective, so if you think the app has misjudged your mood, you can change it using the “Help, my mood is wrong” button under the Mood tab.

Is Emoodji moderated?

On the Feed tab, you can Report a post if you think it is inappropriate for Emoodji – this will flag the post for the attention of the Mind team, who will either remove it or leave it. However, unless a post is reported, it is not moderated.

Can I send Emoodjis to people I don’t know?

At the moment, you can only send Emoodjis to someone on your phone contact list. We want Emoodji to be there for friends to share how they’re feeling with each other, but always want to hear from you if you’ve got ideas on how to make Emoodji better. See question 8.

How can I give feedback?

We’re really keen to hear as much feedback about Emoodji as possible, good or bad! To let us know what you think, email emoodji@mind.org.uk.

Is it available outside the UK?

Yes – Emoodji is now available in most countries on both iOS and Android.

General

“I’m really struggling right now.”

If things are really hard for you right now, Emoodji might not be the best place to get support. The app’s been designed to help students manage their mental health at university and is not a treatment for mental health problems or a source of crisis support.

There are many other places to get support that will hopefully be appropriate to you:

If you’re really struggling and need urgent help, the quickest way is to call 999 or go to A&E.

And don’t forget, Samaritans are always there if you need to talk something through with a calm and non-judgemental ear – 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org.

Project (e.g. Funding)

Who built Emoodji? How is it funded?

Emoodji is made and funded by Mind, the mental health charity. Throughout the project, we’ve worked closely with students and worked in partnership with Student Minds, the student mental health charity, and 3SIDEDCUBE, the mobile app development agency.

Who are Mind?

Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

University can be a very difficult time in a person’s life, with 92% of students stating that they’ve experienced some kind of mental ill health during their studies. A significant stigma remains around mental health amongst university students and over 50% admit that they find it very hard to admit that they’re not coping, even when feeling overwhelmed.

Student life is filled with challenges that vary from person to person: transitioning away from the support networks of home; coping with academic pressures; and managing the social expectations that come at university. Emoodji hopes to help student manage their mental health and wellbeing through these challenges.

What’s the theory behind Emoodji? Why is it good for my mental health?

We’ve built Emoodji using the principles of Mind’s approach to resilience, someone’s ability to deal with and adapt to challenging circumstances and stay mentally well. We’ve identified three elements we believe lie at the heart of resilience: wellbeing, social connections and having ways to cope with difficult events.

Emoodji encourage students to notice their mood; what affects it and why. It also facilitates users sharing how they’re feeling with others and friends to support each other through difficult periods. Emoodji’s tips and information are filled with ways to improve a student’s wellbeing and suggestions for coping with difficult events, such as techniques for coping with stress.